The History of Black Georgetown
March - May 2025, tour is offered the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 2pm. June - August 2025, tour is offered the 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month at 10am.
Someone visiting Georgetown today may see it as another wealthy enclave in a continuously gentrifying Washington, DC. However, this charming area has a diverse history. Originally a busy port for the export of tobacco, it was also the site of an active slave trade, and at one point African Americans counted as 30% of the Georgetown population. Descendants of those enslaved peoples and black free folk have lived in Georgetown for generations, but their contributions to its history do not often receive the same recognition. This tour will reveal the stories of the black citizens who made their mark on one of DC’s oldest neighborhoods.
The tour starts at 3206 O Street NW DC and ends at the Mt. Zion Cemetery, at 2501 Mill Rd. NW. There is a half-way stop at Thomas Sweet Shop for a bathroom break and refreshment.
Options
The History of Black Georgetown
What's included in The History of Black Georgetown
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
The gothic-style Healy Hall was built at the direction of, and named for, Georgetown University's only black President, Patrick Healy.
Pomander Walk used to be Bell's Court, owned by Alexander Graham Bell. Bell's Court was characteristic of alleyway communities throughout DC, where you had a close-knit black community.
The tour takes a half-way stop at Thomas Sweet for refreshment and a bathroom break.
Inclusions
- Over 2 hours of historic information offered by an experienced guide.
- Coffee and/or Tea
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting Points
- Guests will meet in front of Fiola Mare on the waterfront side of the Georgetown Waterfront.
